Lower Woods
Encyclopedia
Lower Woods is a 280.1 hectare
biological and geological Site of Special Scientific Interest near the village of Wickwar
, South Gloucestershire
, notified in 1966. The site is a nature reserve
managed by the Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust
.
Lower Woods are the most extensive area of ancient woodland
s in the former county of Avon
and lie covers an area north and south of the Little Avon River
.
Hectare
The hectare is a metric unit of area defined as 10,000 square metres , and primarily used in the measurement of land. In 1795, when the metric system was introduced, the are was defined as being 100 square metres and the hectare was thus 100 ares or 1/100 km2...
biological and geological Site of Special Scientific Interest near the village of Wickwar
Wickwar
Wickwar is a village in South Gloucestershire between Chipping Sodbury and Charfield. It is famous for its football club and its high street. The Wickwar brewery is a popular local producer of cask ale....
, South Gloucestershire
South Gloucestershire
South Gloucestershire is a unitary district in the ceremonial county of Gloucestershire, in South West England.-History:The district was created in 1996, when the county of Avon was abolished, by the merger of former area of the districts of Kingswood and Northavon...
, notified in 1966. The site is a nature reserve
Nature reserve
A nature reserve is a protected area of importance for wildlife, flora, fauna or features of geological or other special interest, which is reserved and managed for conservation and to provide special opportunities for study or research...
managed by the Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust
Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust
The Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust is the Gloucestershire local partner in a conservation network of 47 Wildlife Trusts. The Wildlife Trusts are local charities with the specific aim of protecting the United Kingdom's natural heritage...
.
Lower Woods are the most extensive area of ancient woodland
Ancient woodland
Ancient woodland is a term used in the United Kingdom to refer specifically to woodland that has existed continuously since 1600 or before in England and Wales . Before those dates, planting of new woodland was uncommon, so a wood present in 1600 was likely to have developed naturally...
s in the former county of Avon
Avon (county)
Avon was, from 1974 to 1996, a non-metropolitan and ceremonial county in the west of England.The county was named after the River Avon, which runs through the area. It was formed from parts of the historic counties of Gloucestershire and Somerset, together with the City of Bristol...
and lie covers an area north and south of the Little Avon River
Little Avon River
The Little Avon River is a small river partly in southern Gloucestershire and partly in South Gloucestershire. For much of its length it forms the boundary between the county of Gloucestershire and the unitary authority of South Gloucestershire. It rises to the east of Wickwar, near Horton, passes...
.
Source
- English Nature citation sheet for the site (accessed 19 July 2006)
- Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust: Lower Woods
- Lower Woods Nature Reserve - Guide and Species List. Edited by Dr Mike Martin. Published by Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust 1996, Revised Second Edition date?